Should be three awesome games tonight. Three teams facing elimination. Two of them on home ice.

I want to go with my heart and take Buffalo, but I just don't know. They took it to Boston last game and they get Vanek back tonight. Drew Stafford sits, and that's a good thing as he's been pretty bad in the series. Look for the Kennedy-Roy-Vanek line from games 1 and 2 to be reunited.

I hope Washington ends Montreal's season in front of all their dickhead fans. Classless assholes. Halak's been really good or really bad all series. I think MTL scratches and claws out a game 7.

Chicago really hasn't been impressive at all against Nashville. I think they take it up a notch and get a convincing road win to end the series. Barring some late game heroics, they'd be golfing already. But, you can say the same for SJ. SJ stepped up on the road in game 6. That's what good teams do. Chicago is a good team.

A God Damn dead man would understand that if a minor league bus in any city took a real sharp right turn, a Zack McCalister would likely fall out. - Lead Pipe

They'll find a way to pull it out tomorrow, I think, but they've really been exposed. Like I said above, I wouldn't be shocked to see PHI beat them. The problem for PHI would be the really long layoff between game 5 of their series and game 1 of the conference semis. They'll be really flat coming out of the gate.

I'm fired up for the PHX/DET game tonight. I have no rooting interest in either team, but I fully expect an excellent hockey game.

A God Damn dead man would understand that if a minor league bus in any city took a real sharp right turn, a Zack McCalister would likely fall out. - Lead Pipe

The Wings are in serious trouble and I like it. I wonder if SJ is waking up at just the right time to make these playoffs interesting. I would really prefer to see a Vancouver/SJ series for a chance at the cup. No offense to Chicago but I want to see if Luongo has enough gas in the tank to win the WCF and then win a cup after the Olympics.

Pit should hold on vs the Habs but I give the Habs credit, its been a battle and Halak has looked good.

Question, when did Josh Gorges become good enough to play on a playoff team? LOL, I remember him fondly with the Barons and didnt think he was anything special. Havent really watched the Habs much so wondering if that changed?

“Baseball is like church. Many attend but few understand.”- Wes Westrum

"The future is like a Japanese game show, we have no idea whats going on." - Tracy Jordan

"Gentlemen, Chicolini here may talk like an idiot and look like an idiot, but don't let that fool you. He really is an idiot."-Rufus T. Firefly

jack_tors wrote:Question, when did Josh Gorges become good enough to play on a playoff team? LOL, I remember him fondly with the Barons and didnt think he was anything special. Havent really watched the Habs much so wondering if that changed?

He's not anything special. That's what makes him so good. He's just a sound defenseman positionally. He always had that, and he's always had the hockey sense. I wasn't sure if he was strong enough to handle the physical play at the NHL level. But he's been pretty good.

I'm surprised it took him this long to blossom in to a good player, but I'm not surprised that SJ gave up on him.

A God Damn dead man would understand that if a minor league bus in any city took a real sharp right turn, a Zack McCalister would likely fall out. - Lead Pipe

jack_tors wrote:Question, when did Josh Gorges become good enough to play on a playoff team? LOL, I remember him fondly with the Barons and didnt think he was anything special. Havent really watched the Habs much so wondering if that changed?

He's not anything special. That's what makes him so good. He's just a sound defenseman positionally. He always had that, and he's always had the hockey sense. I wasn't sure if he was strong enough to handle the physical play at the NHL level. But he's been pretty good.

I'm surprised it took him this long to blossom in to a good player, but I'm not surprised that SJ gave up on him.

Perhaps I am not giving him enough credit. I watched a lot of bad hockey and it was awhile ago. I just remember him being pushed off the puck a lot and kinda getting manhandled but hell, they ALL did back then with the exception of Murray. Nothing was better than watching Riley Armstrong get beaten all over the ice.

“Baseball is like church. Many attend but few understand.”- Wes Westrum

"The future is like a Japanese game show, we have no idea whats going on." - Tracy Jordan

"Gentlemen, Chicolini here may talk like an idiot and look like an idiot, but don't let that fool you. He really is an idiot."-Rufus T. Firefly

Cerebral_DownTime wrote:Not to draw unwanted heat, but I really don't have a problem with Pittsburgh, the city or the people.

I have seen 6 Pens games in Pittsburgh and have come away less than impressed with the fans and city (although PNC Park is damn near perfect). Went with Pens fans each time and the last 2 times listen to hilljacks bang on Cleveland during both intermissions. Werent wearing or saying anything to distinguish myself as an outsider, just bad luck I guess.

“Baseball is like church. Many attend but few understand.”- Wes Westrum

"The future is like a Japanese game show, we have no idea whats going on." - Tracy Jordan

"Gentlemen, Chicolini here may talk like an idiot and look like an idiot, but don't let that fool you. He really is an idiot."-Rufus T. Firefly

Cerebral_DownTime wrote:Not to draw unwanted heat, but I really don't have a problem with Pittsburgh, the city or the people.

I have seen 6 Pens games in Pittsburgh and have come away less than impressed with the fans and city (although PNC Park is damn near perfect). Went with Pens fans each time and the last 2 times listen to hilljacks bang on Cleveland during both intermissions. Werent wearing or saying anything to distinguish myself as an outsider, just bad luck I guess.

and Cleveland fans bang on Pittsburgh fans for no apparent reason.

I've been to many Browns games at CBS, and at least half of the people there were dumbass drunken white trash that i'd like to punch in the face.

Cerebral_DownTime wrote:Philly does it! Down 3-0 in the series, down 3-0 in the game and they do it. Infuckincredible. The NBA wishes they could have playoffs this good.

Best playoff in pro sports.

With their backup goaltender no less. He got released by Carolina after going 1-4 with a 4.28 GAA and an .848 sv%.

First time in history that a conference final is a #7 v. #8. I was in the sportsbook at Casino Niagara watching the end of the game. Very pro-Habs crowd. Even with what Crosby did for them in the Olympics.

Crosby was embarrassing in that series. Poetic justice that his cheap shot hit on Gorges at the start of the game set Montreal rolling.

I suggest everybody watch every game of the SJ-CHI series. More talent in one series than I've ever seen. Could be quite a few 5-4, 6-5 games. Should be awesome.

A God Damn dead man would understand that if a minor league bus in any city took a real sharp right turn, a Zack McCalister would likely fall out. - Lead Pipe

Hard to say who is a deeper team. Goaltending decides the series. If Niemi is good, Chicago wins. If Nabokov is good, SJ wins. Nabokov has to be wearing down, though. 82 games for Nabokov plus a couple in the Olympics.

Chicago's energy line might be another difference. I think they're better than SJ's checking line and I think they have more speed to shut down the Marleau line.

Overall, it may boil down to which team's stars play better. Toews hasn't been great. Kane has. Chicago needs a guy like Pavelski to step up. Thornton and Marleau have been pretty good for the Sharks.

All in all, I expect an awesome, intense seven gamer.

A God Damn dead man would understand that if a minor league bus in any city took a real sharp right turn, a Zack McCalister would likely fall out. - Lead Pipe